Kane POV:
I found her. She was right there—so close yet still maddeningly out of reach.
"Elena," I called out, my voice low and dangerous as I tried to steady the desperation rising in my chest. Her eyes met mine, wide with defiance, but there was fear there too. I hated that look, hated that she saw me as something to run from. When she shifted her weight to step back further into the shadows, my heart twisted painfully.
"Why can't we be like normal, loving mates?" I asked her, my voice softer this time, pleading. I wanted her to see—to understand. I didn't want anyone else. Just her. Always her.
I took a step forward, trying to close the distance, but she matched me, retreating another step. The gap between us never shrank.
